Cymatoceras perstriatum (Steuer, 1897) (Cephalopoda, Nautiloidea) from the Early Berriasian-Early Valanginian (Lower Cretaceous) of Central Chile

Abstract

The nautilid Cymatoceras perstriatum was originally recorded by Steuer from the Tithonian of the Mendoza province in central Argentina. Subsequently the taxon was recorded in sediments of Valanginian-Barremian age in the Neuquén province of Argentina. Cymatoceras cf. perstriatum was also documented from the late Barremian of the Atacama region in Chile. In central Chile, Klohn listed Cymatoceras perstriatum from the Early Berriasian-Early Valanginian. Here we revise this latter specimen and discuss its stratigraphical range and provenance. We conclude that the specimen was collected by Klohn from Early Berriasian to Early Valanginian sediments of the Lo Valdés Formation and that this record is presently the oldest in Chile. The taxon appears to be endemic to the Andean Basin.